Ballack, Frings back to face Norway

BERLIN (AFP) — Chelsea star Michael Ballack and Bremen’s Torsten Frings have both been recalled to the Germany squad to face Norway in a friendly next Wednesday, but there is no place for Lukas Podolski.

Frings’s Werder teammate Mesut Oezil, 20, has been called up for the first time as has Hoffenheim’s Andreas Beck, while Borussia Moenchengladbach teenager Marko Marin is in line to win his fifth cap against Norway.

Veteran Frings is back after being dropped from the starting side for the World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Wales last October which led to captain Ballack stating senior players deserve more respect and loyalty from coach Joachim Loew.

Ballack’s comments sparked a public row with Loew, but the matter was later resolved after the Chelsea midfielder apologised.

Neither player was selected to face England in last November’s friendly, which Fabio Capello’s side won 2-1 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, as Ballack was injured and Frings was not considered.

Meanwhile, after some impresive performances for Bremen, Oezil had to choose between Germany and Turkey, from where his family originates, and the Germany Under-21 star was delighted with his promotion to die Mannschaft.

“I am pleased about the invitation and hope to take my chance in the German national team,” said Oezil on the German Football Federation (DFB) website.

“I know it is the correct choice.”

“The decision was not an easy one to make, because my family and many friends originate from Turkey.”

“It was not a decision against my Turkish roots.”

“My family is now the third generation in Germany and I have always felt my chance lay with the DFB.”

“So I hope I can continue my success with the Germany Under-21 team at the European Championships in Sweden this summer.”

Loew had been waiting to see if Oezil would opt to play for Germany and the pair spoke last Friday.

“The Turkish federation have been trying to win over Mesut recently and he was in a difficult situation,” said Loew.

“We understood and had to wait until he decided who he wants to play for.”

“In a telephone call with me last Friday,” he told me he wants to play for the Germany team.

“He is another candidate for the midfield and he will get his chance against Norway.”

As well as midfielders Frings and Ballack, Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm is also back in the squad after injury, while Bayer Leverkusen’s Stefan Kiessling has earned a re-call.

Kiessling’s only international match appearance was in March 2007 against Denmark in the 1-0 defeat at Duisburg.

“Stefan has played very well so far in the Bundesliga and has earned his chance,” said Loew.

But there is no place in the Germany squad for Bayern’s Lukas Podolski, who is third-choice striker at Munich and has struggled with a back injury and illness this season.

“The qualities of Lukas are undisputed and he played very well for the national team last year,” said Loew.

“But for three months he has been injured and suffered illness, so regular training was not possible for him,” said Loew.

“We want to give him time to get his form back and this game was too early for him.

“We hope he will be back for the World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Wales in Cardiff later this season.”

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